The Ally

"An exclusive contract?" Vivian couldn't believe her ears. She had expected something related to internal strife—after all, the Arahant family was notorious for its fierce sibling rivalry, and Zed's power base wasn't particularly strong. But an exclusive contract? Did he not understand how the world worked?

She had considered entering into such a contract eventually. She knew the limitations of juggling multiple deals and had planned to go all-in with a promising candidate when the time came. In fact, she was already in talks with several prospects, the most promising being the eldest son of the Drang family.

'Does he know about my plans?' It was suspicious that someone she'd never met before would suddenly propose an exclusive contract. After all, the Arahant family had the Black Guard, an organization that could see through the empire's secrets.

"…The world must be a simple place for someone like you, Lord Zed."

"You won't be able to refuse my offer."

"Isn't that a bit overconfident? Do you think everything will go your way?"

"You're reacting negatively before even hearing the terms. That's not how a businessperson should act."

"A businessperson?" Vivian's mood soured instantly. While mercenaries were essentially no different from merchants, hearing it to her face was deeply unpleasant. Her once-charming smile vanished, and she straightened her posture, crossing her arms.

"Alright, since you've come this far, let's hear it." She tilted her chin up, her expression now haughty as she stared at Zed.

"It's exactly what it sounds like—an exclusive contract. From now on, the Desion Mercenaries will handle only my affairs."

"Yes, and?"

"Madoran and Neka are too far apart. To ensure smooth communication, move your headquarters to Neka."

"What?"

"You'll cover the relocation costs. I don't have that kind of money yet."

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Vivian was flabbergasted. Relocating headquarters was no small feat, and now she was expected to foot the bill? She forced herself to calm down, reminding herself that losing her temper in front of a client was unprofessional.

"Lord Zed, you're joking, right? You can't possibly be serious."

"I'm a busy man. Why would I waste my time here?"

"Ha. I must really be losing my touch. I thought I had a good eye for people." Vivian prided herself on her ability to judge clients. Until now, she had considered Zed a worthy prospect. But this absurd proposal had shattered her expectations. She was disappointed in him—and in herself for considering him a client in the first place.

"It's rare tea, so take it with you. As for meals, I can serve you for five gold coins per person."

"You'll regret it for the rest of your life if you walk away now."

"I'm sorry, but I don't have time to play games with you, Lord Zed." Vivian smirked and stood up, reaching for the door handle. Just as she was about to turn it, Zed's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"The price I'll pay is the Black Guard."

"What?!" Vivian spun around, her face a mix of shock and confusion. Had she misheard? Zed, however, remained calm, sipping his tea as if nothing had happened.

"…What did you just say?"

"I said I'd give you the Black Guard."

"Ha, haha…" She chuckled at first, but it soon erupted into full-blown laughter. The witch's laughter filled the VIP room, causing Nunes, who had been silently observing, to shiver slightly.

"Zed, what are you talking about? The Black Guard? Are you serious?" Nunes interjected, as if to suggest the joke had gone far enough. But Zed remained silent.

After her laughter subsided, Vivian glared at Zed, her expression darkening. "Do you think I'm a fool? The Black Guard? Really?"

"You'd better calm down. From now on, you'll need to choose your words carefully."

"I can't believe this. This brat…!"

"Isn't the Desion Mercenaries what you've always wanted to be like the Black Guard? Though it's just a pipe dream."

As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. Vivian had always dreamed of turning Desion into something like the Black Guard—the invisible hand that moved the empire. It was the pinnacle of what someone from a humble background like hers could aspire to. Her ambitions were that vast.

"A pipe dream? Who are you to decide my limits?"

"I'm not doubting your abilities. The Black Guard became what it is today because it had the Arahant family backing it. And most importantly…"

"Spit it out. My patience is wearing thin."

"Time. The Black Guard wasn't built overnight. It took nearly 950 years, starting from the death of the first family head, Temud. They grew their influence bit by bit."

"What…?"

"A massive backing like the Arahant family and nearly a millennium of effort. Which of those do you have?"

"…"

"You can't live forever, and you have no backing. So wake up. Desion will never be the Black Guard. No organization will ever wield that kind of influence."

There was nothing more crushing than having your dreams shattered. Vivian felt exactly that. She wanted to argue, but every word he said was true. The frustration of it all left her speechless.

'A massive backing and a thousand years of time…' The fastest way to become like someone is to live exactly as they did. But Vivian couldn't replicate even a fraction of that. She knew she had to accept reality, but her heart refused to.

"No! That's not true!"

------

"Nothing eats away at you like false hope. Your ambition is a pipe dream."

"Shut up! What do you know, spouting nonsense like that? One more word, and I'll kill you!"

"If I were you, I'd spend less time wallowing and more time figuring out a solution."

"Urgh…!"

Whoosh!

Vivian's palm gathered swirling wind energy. Like snowballing, the wind compressed into a sphere before shaping itself into a sword.

"J-Jade!"

Nunez, startled by the sudden turn of events, stepped forward but froze in place. The sharp tip of the wind-forged sword was aimed directly at Jade's heart. One wrong move, and it would pierce through him in an instant.

Even in this life-or-death situation, Jade remained calm.

"If it can't be helped, then take it."

"…What?"

"Didn't I tell you? I'll give you the Black Guard."

"Ha!"

The tip of the sword trembled, mirroring her inner turmoil. Emotions swirled within her—anger, hope, murderous intent, and the realization that this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Slowly, the energy in her palm dissipated.

"Huu…."

"Finally in the mood to talk, I see."

Vivian took a deep breath, her rationality returning. She smoothed her disheveled hair, adjusted her clothes, and sat down.

"...I've been disrespectful to a valued client."

"This is a negotiation. Your disrespect comes at a cost."

"…I'll admit it. So, what do you want from me?"

"Move your base to Neka. You'll cover the expenses."

"That's it? What about the price for my mistake?"

"Well, I'm a generous person."

Jade's light smile made Vivian think. This man might be far more formidable than she'd imagined. She was already halfway convinced, but the terms of the deal still needed careful consideration.

"Alright. You said you'd give me the Black Guard, but how is that possible? The Black Guard is the Arhan family head's personal unit. It's not something you can just hand over. I've never seen a client offer something like this as a condition."

"You already know the answer, don't you?"

"...Wait, you don't mean—?"

"Make me the Arhan family head. Then, naturally, the Black Guard will be yours."

"What? No, that's—!"

"Why? Didn't you say nothing is impossible earlier?"

"...."

"You should've been more careful with your words."

Vivian was speechless. She'd faced countless clients in her career, but never had she been outmaneuvered like this in a negotiation. By the time she regained her composure, Jade had already taken control.

"...This seems like a reckless gamble."

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'll only make this offer once."

"You act calm, but you're in a hurry too, aren't you? That's why you came all this way."

"There are plenty of mercenary groups besides Desion. Overconfidence doesn't suit you."

"Fine, then go find another mercenary group."

"Don't bother. Struggling won't bring the initiative back to you."

"...."

What kind of person is this?

The more she struggled, the deeper she sank. It felt like he could see right through her. Vivian raised her hands in surrender.

"I admit it. You're more experienced than any client I've dealt with. I don't know how someone your age can be so skilled."

"You're the first person I've seen who built such an organization at a young age. That's why I value your abilities."

"Your carrot-and-stick approach is top-notch. So, what do you need me to do?"

Jade took a satisfied sip of tea.

"The Substitute Mission Order has ended. That means my safety net is gone."

"Rumors say you've cleaned up the factional disputes among the elders. Is that true?"

"That's precisely the problem. The balance has shifted. Now, all the branch heads have an equal chance."

"Hmm… I see. So, as soon as you return to the family, the infighting among your siblings will begin? Desion's job would be to protect you from that."

"You catch on quickly. But there's one more thing. I plan to absorb them into my faction."

Vivian tilted her head in confusion before her eyes widened in realization.

"...You're saying you won't kill your siblings?"

"The elders will support me, and the family head is likely to side with me. With Desion on board, it's entirely possible."

"Choosing the hard path over the easy one… I like that kind of challenge."

"You and I are alike."

Vivian and Jade laughed simultaneously. Nunez, who had no idea what was going on, awkwardly joined in before quickly stopping when Vivian's laughter ceased.

"How do you plan to keep your promise to me? I'd like to hear the details."

"All Desion mercenaries will become Black Guard members, and you'll be appointed as its captain."

"Ah… And the current captain?"

"He's not on my side. A new era requires new leadership."

"He won't step down quietly. The Black Guard has its own traditions, after all."

"Don't worry about that. I'll become a Black Guard member as soon as I return to the family."

"What?!"

Vivian was stunned. A branch head becoming a Black Guard member? It made no sense, but Jade, as if reading her thoughts, added:

"To catch a tiger, you must enter its den."

For a moment, his eyes gleamed with unshakable determination.